The Tottenham Hotspur manager, Harry Redknapp, fears an impending selection crisis after watching his two vice-captains pick up injuries during yesterday's goalless draw with Manchester United.

Jermaine Jenas could be up to a month on the sidelines after tearing a calf muscle while Jonathan Woodgate will see a specialist after aggravating a longstanding back problem.

Furthermore, the Spurs captain Ledley King's chronic knee injury means Redknapp cannot count on his fitness ahead of this Thursday's final Uefa Cup group stage match against Spartak Moscow, while Alan Hutton is out until April and another defender, Vedran Corluka, remains cup-tied.

"Apparently Woodgate had a back problem when he signed here so he needs to see a specialist," said Redknapp. "The club doctor said it was the type of injury he had when he came here. Jenas has a tear in his calf."

Tottenham's plight has highlighted the folly of their former manager Juande Ramos' decision to omit the defenders Paul Stalteri and Ricardo Rocha and the midfield players Hossam Ghaly, Adel Taarabt and Kevin-Prince Boateng from the club's Uefa Cup squad.

"Those five aren't in the Uefa Cup squad so I've got kids out of the youth team because you have to have so many homegrown players in your squad," said Redknapp. "Every manager says their squad is stretched but if I hadn't brought the five back that were cast aside when I came here, we'd be desperate. We need some cover when we have injuries. You need a squad."